SPOKANE, Wash. — As hundreds of residents in Washington and California were allowed to return to homes once threatened by major wildfires, some people were told to evacuate as encroaching blazes neared Idaho towns.

The towns of Pine and Featherville remained in the path of a 113-square-mile wildfire that has been burning for two weeks. Authorities had been asking residents to prepare to leave.

"It's a very active, very dangerous fire," said fire information officer Steve Till. Crews "were prepared for it but civilians are probably much better not being here."